Fire displaces apartment residents

Fire and smoke shoot out of the roof of an apartment building in Mendota on May 19. The cause of the fire is under investigation. (Photo contributed)

MENDOTA – A building fire at an apartment complex in Mendota was battled by firefighters from numerous area departments on May 19.

The call came in to the Mendota Fire Department at 6:57 p.m. of a structure fire at 205 Sandra Ave., Building B. Firemen arrived on the scene just eight minutes later. Upon arrival, fire and thick black smoke were visible from the roof area of the building.

The Mendota department called for mutual aid from Troy Grove, LaSalle, Peru, Sublette and Paw Paw, while engines from Amboy and Utica came in to stand by at the Mendota station.

The fire was under control by 7:30 p.m., but firemen remained on the scene until 1:15 a.m. Fifteen residents of the unit were displaced. The cause of the fire is under investigation, with damage estimated at $20,000. There were no injuries.

A total of 51 firemen and two EMS personnel were on scene, in addition to police, ESDA and water department personnel.

The Red Cross has been contacted to help assist the families impacted by the fire.